IM01 - Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas Page A

just a month after our arrival in Rome.”
    He turned another page, revealing a drawing of a palatial home filled with people dressed in long, colorful tunic dresses, shawls, and togas.
    “Oh, how beautiful.” I admired the various women with long hair, adorned with glittering decorations.
    “We lived in the lap of luxury, just as Kallisto wanted, and she and I were worshipped as rulers among our fledgling family.”
    Why would Lysander leave the coven, then? I looked up, trying to glean some information from his expression. He ignored my questioning gaze, continuing with his story.
    “Rules soon had to be established to maintain order amongst our group. Fledglings began turning their mortal lovers, and our homes overflowed with too many vampires. Kallisto and I came up with and instructed our brood on the five laws that would rule our coven.”
    He turned the page again, showing me what appeared to be a list marked by large, ornately drawn Roman numerals. He pointed them out as he read them to me.
    “Number one. We do not walk among men as equals. We are hidden gods, revealing ourselves only to our victims before the moment of their deaths, or to our children before bestowing our gift upon them. Death shall be your reward for revealing our true nature to mortals .
    “Number two. Our gifts shall not be squandered. Only the unique among mortals will be granted immortality and approval shall be sought before performing the act. Death shall be you and your child’s reward for siring without consent .”
    My heart skipped a beat. I gasped, realizing now why Edmond was sent to warn Lysander. Ly-sander turned me, and now Kallisto wanted us dead.
    Lysander continued reading, seemingly unaware of my panic.
    “Number three. The rules governing mortal crimes shall be enforced among immortals. Murder and thievery will not be tolerated among your brethren, and your mistress will judge you on the severity of your crimes.
    “Number four. Discretion in your feeding is your duty, and no trace should be left of your nightly activities, or you risk exposure of our kind to mortals. Death shall be your reward for breaking our veil of secrecy.
    “And finally, number five. Your brethren’s victims are theirs to have and feed from. Do not covet or attempt to take them from your brothers and sisters. We must all respect one another as family. Exile shall be your reward for covetousness .”
    Lysander finally looked at me. “I told you covens were fanatical.” Though I was horrified by this revelation, his tone hadn’t changed. He spoke plainly, as if he were not affected by what he was telling me.
    “Punishments were harsh in our coven. We had to keep the rules strict to maintain order among our brood.”
    “But you broke one of those rules by turning me.”
    “Whose rules are they?”
    I thought for a moment before speaking. “Kallisto’s.”
    “Exactly. Not mine. I am no longer a member of that coven.”
    “But you helped establish them. Kallisto sent someone to tell you that you broke a law. And if those rules are still in effect, you signed both our death warrants when you turned me.”
    “Get a hold of yourself, Alyssa. I told you, I do not belong with her any longer.”
    I couldn’t hide the fright in my voice. “If she is sending messengers, then she might still think you do.” How could he be so calm about all of this?
    “Alyssa, please understand. Her coven is not the only coven out there. Her laws, though she might not want to admit it, do not govern the entirety of the vampire world.”
    I wasn’t entirely convinced. If Kallisto sent a messenger out to warn us, there had to be some real reason behind it.
    “Even as Kallisto and I were making these rules for our new coven, there were already many other vampires populating the world. Remember, Kallisto must have been turned by someone before coming to Amfissa. Logic will tell you there had to be others out there. Now, shall I continue with my story?”
    “Fine,